Altuve found out during the seventh inning of the Astros’ spring training game against the New York Mets at Osceola County Stadium.

Asked about being moved into a full-time leadoff role for the rebuilding Astros, Altuve paused, then acknowledged he was unsure what a reporter was talking about.

Filled in on the news, the 2012 All-Star reserve smiled and embraced his modest nature.

“I’ll get to see my name in the lineup everyday,” Altuve said.

The 22-year-old was the Astros’ top all-around player last season, hitting .290 with 34 doubles, 80 runs, 33 stolen bases and a .740 on-base plus slugging percentage in 147 games. This season, Altuve plans to increase his bunting – he laid down a smooth first-inning bunt Wednesday during the first inning against the Mets – and believes more walks (Altuve earned 40 bases on balls in 2012) will occur as pitchers recognize his improved plate discipline.

“I just get the mindset to get on base,” said Altuve, who entered Wednesday hitting .356 through 45 spring at-bats.

He added: “The walks are going to come. Protection at home plate, I’m working on that right now.”

Altuve said in February he was content hitting No. 2, which Porter said was his preferred choice. But after shortstops Tyler Greene and Marwin Gonzalez failed to prove to the first-year manager they could hold down the everyday leadoff spot, Porter reverted to Altuve as a traditional choice. Greene and Gonzalez would have to greatly exceed their previous MLB numbers and expected career arcs to become strong leadoff options for the Astros this season. The speedy, aggressive Altuve is well-tailored for the role and his lack of power (seven home runs in 2012) is one of his few drawbacks.

Altuve took over the Astros’ leadoff spot midway through last season. Outfielder Jordan Schafer initially held the No. 1 position. In 85 games (332 at-bats) as a leadoff hitter, Altuve hit .271 with an .711 OPS. He had better numbers at the No. 2 spot, though, batting .318 with a .776 OPS and recording 64 hits in just .201 at-bats.

“As we stand here (Wednesday), we don’t have somebody that’s taken the bull by the horns in that leadoff spot,” Porter said. “So it makes probably the most sense to have probably, arguably one of our best hitters — who is going to get a bunch of hits, who is going to get on base a lot. It gets him an extra at-bat hitting at the top of the lineup. So, right now, it makes sense.”